The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-06-02
MINNESOTA THURSDAY JUNE O. 1884,

rraae up MS n.1nc In wnIcn room ne would
hang up his acquisition when he got it.
women have a good eye for effect, Z" he
said. 'I'n talk it over with Sophy. but
Tn pretty sure that she will be of my
opinion"
Mrs. Palecourt, one of the few ladies
nowadays who prefer adopting their hus-
bands decision to the trouble of thinking
for themselves, having, as was antici-
paed, placidly signif1ed her approval, q
vacant space on the dining room wall was
agreed upon as a fitting place of honor
for the coming masterpiece; and its in
staAation thereon regarded as foregone
conclusion.
Sips, however, between the cup and the
lip VIII sometimes occur, and the next
mornings post brought with It sum-
mons which materially affected Master
Sepimus' plans. It was from an old
friend, on the point of embarking the
same evening from Portsmouth, who de-
matters before leaving England.
There's no help for it, " said Mr.. Pale
court after reading the letter aloud for
his wife s benefit. az must go; so there's
an end of it. II he could only have waited
until tomorrow
"Very provoking" chimed in Sophy.
eve must hope for better luck another
time"
''Not likely" doubtfully replied her
liege lord. "Cuyps don't turn up every
day. However, 1 may as well start at
once; and don't wait dinner for me, for I
| may not be back till late''
Stopping at the nearest stationer's for a
''Bradshaw" on his way, to Victoria, and
hastily consulting the instructive manual,
Mr.. Palecourt suddenly discovered, to his
inexpressible delight, that he had half an
hour to spare before the departure Of the
train.
"By Jove" he muttered, IT never
thought of that! I have plenty of time to
leave : commission with the auctioneer,
and that will do quite as well as if were
there myself''
A word to "cabby," accompanied by a
suggestive hint of possible largesse, soon
brought him to his destinations: and he
was at once ushered into the auctioneer's
private room, where he briefly explained
to that functionary the object of his visit.
81 understand said the latter. 'Num-
Der eighty-six in the catalogue; land
scape with cattle and figures, attributed
to Cuyp. Certainly; my clerk shall bid
"Palecourt, No. 1874 Thurloe square,"
very good. How far do you intend
to go2"
Why" said septimus, who had not
considered that point, 81 should think
fifty pounds would be ample"
"Better leave a margin and say hun
dred. You wouldn't like to miss it, of
courseY'
"Well, no, but hundred is rather a
fancy price. However, you may put it
down at that, though it isn't likely to
fetch half as much.''
II should be very much surprised If It
did, said the auctioneer, and the inter-
view closed, Mr.. Palecourt regaining his
hanson and succeeded in catching the
train for Portsmouth exactly two minutes
before it steamed out of the station.
Meanwhile his wife was relating to her
brother, who, living close by, generally
dropped in for a chat in the course of the
morning, the mischance that had pre-
vented Septimus from attending the
sale,
Mr.. Ferguson, a practical man Of COM
mercial, rather than artistic tendencies,
shrugged his shoulders. 81 should have
thought he had pictures enough already"
he dryly remarked.
"Well, yes, we have a good many"
aSsented Mrs. Palecourt. "But he has
set his heart on this one, poor fellow, and
] can't bear to see him disappointed. I
only wish could get it for him.
eff you care so much about it, said her
brother, nothing is easier. I'll manage
it for YOU"
"No-will you, Tom9" eagerly exclaimed
Sophy. 81 don't mind what it costs, pro-
vided he has it.''
every well, give me one of your hus-
bands cards and the catalogue. By the
by, what is the number am to bid for?''
'Eighty-six; I've marked it in pencil.
And come back to dinner, for ] shall be
all alone, and Septimus told me not to
wait for him."
"An right" said Mr. Ferguson, look
ing at his watch. give minutes past
twelve, SO needn't hurry, and the walk
will do me good"
On arriving at the auction room he
found that the sale had already begun.
81 had better not bid myself, " he thought,
cor they will be sure to run me up. I
will get one of those fellows to do it for
me-" Looking round, he beckoned to a
short, fiOrid individual, Shadrach by
name, with whom he had had some
sary instructions, to which the other
responded by an intelligent twinkle of his
eye, and quietly insinuated himself among
the bidders.
Lot after lot was briskly put up and
knocked down, and ere long it came to
the turn of eighty-six.
"a landscape with cattle and figures,
attributed to Cuyp," proclaimed the auc-
tioneer from his desk. "Shan we say five
pounds to begin with?''
A nod from his clerk sitting at the
table.
"Guineas," said Shadrach.
No one else making sign, the contest
proceeded actively between the two oppo-
nents; the one steadily progressing with
pounds, and the other Immediately cap
ping him with guineas, murmur of as
constituent circulated among the bystand-
ers; and the leviathan picture dealer Of
Cottonopolis, after contemptuous glance
at the object of their rivalry, honored the
competitors with a polonged stare, evil
IDENTIFY regarding them as couple of luna
tics
"'Twice as much as it is WORTH" grum-
bled Mr. Ferguson, ''but I suppose 1 had
better go on"
At length the struggle came to climax;
the clerks final bid of e100 was followed
by the inevitable nod of his adversary;
whereupon the former collapsed with a
negative shake of the head, and after the
usual formula of mo advance on hun
bred guineas?'' from the auctioneer, down
went the hammer, and Shadrach, rejoin-
ing his employer, congratulated him on
his acquisition.
"See that the picture is brought to-
morrow morning to this address," said
Mr.. Ferguson, giving him the card, "and
the check will be ready"
"What surprise for Septimus," said
the delighted Mrs. Palecourt to her brother,
as they sat dawdling over their dessert.
"How pleased he will bep'
mot so sure of that" gruffy replied
Tom. "Rather more than he bargained
for, fancy. However," he went on, as
a cab stopped at the door, ''here he is to
answer for himself, and If you take my
advice you won't say word about it until
he has had something to eat"
When the traveller had recruited his
energies with the aid of a rechauffe
dinner, his wife, unable any longer to re-
strain her Impotence, burst out with the
news.
tsWhat do you think has happened,
dear, since you were away The picture
is yours"
"Is itS' replied Mr. Palecourt, with less
enthusiasm than she expected, and Won
dering in his own mind how she knew it.
whats the figure?"
ga hundred guineas."
"Guineasp' echoed Septimus, not over